A Case Study on National Recruitment Agency (NRA): How it can strengthen the recruitment and selection process of Government of India and the reasons for its stagnation

Abstract

Purpose: This case study reviews the reasons behind the National Recruitment Agency (NRA)’s prolonged dormancy, examining administrative, logistical, political, and external factors. It also analyzes the substantial costs incurred since the inception of NRA, drawing on official reports, parliamentary proceedings, and media investigations.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The official reports, parliamentary proceedings, detailed demands for grants for NRA, and media investigations were studied and analysed. The analysis is based on a comprehensive review of government documents, news reports, and public discourse up to 2025, revealing a pattern of bureaucratic inertia, policy reversals, and unmet promises that have left millions of aspirants in limbo.

Findings: The results reveal a sharp contrast between the policy announcement and policy implementation of the government. By exploring the timeline, challenges, and implications in the context of the NRA, the study underscores broader systemic issues in India’s governance reforms, where ambitious announcements often outpace implementation.

Originality/value: This study is one of the first case studies on policy decision vis-à-vis policy implementation taken in the context of the NRA. This study also delves in detail into the benefits of combined examinations studied in the context of Common Eligibility Test (CET).

Paper Type: Case Based Study